/ 14 September 2005

Two killed in Western Cape crowd violence

Western Cape police are investigating cases of murder, assault, arson and public violence after a crowd turned violent in St Helena Bay on Tuesday evening.

The violence followed a gathering by about 300 people in Laingville, St Helena Bay, at about 6pm, Inspector Bernadine Steyn said.

The crowd then split into smaller groups that first attacked and killed a 23-year-old man at a house in Syblom Street.

”A 20-year-old male was attacked on a smallholding outside Laingville with knives and pangas. He also died on the scene,” Steyn said.

Three men were assaulted in Madeliefie and Bietou streets. Two of them had minor injuries while the third victim was in a stable condition in hospital.

Two houses, one in Bietou Street and one in Doublom Street, were burned to the ground.

The group threw stones at police vehicles, damaging them.

Police fired rubber bullets and threw a stun grenade in order to disperse the crowd.

”The motive cannot be confirmed at this stage, but we are investigating,” Steyn said.

No arrests were made. — Sapa